Use of vhh antibodies for the preparation of peptide vectors for delivering a substance of interest and their applications

ABSTRACT

Use of a variable fragment (VHH antibody) of a camelid single-chain antibody for the preparation of a peptide vector for delivering a substance of interest across the blood-brain barrier or into a cell.

The present invention relates to the field of delivery of substances ofinterest across the mammal blood-brain barrier, in particular to avariable fragment of a camelid single-chain antibody capable ofdelivering a therapeutic or diagnostic compound across the mammalblood-brain barrier.

Drug delivery into the brain is often restricted by the blood-brainbarrier (BBB), which regulates the exchange of substances between theperipheral circulation and the central nervous system (CNS). BBB actsfirst as an anatomical barrier because of the monolayer of endothelialcells, which are its main component. These cells exhibit specificproperties such as the intercellular tight junctions, which preventparacellular transport (Miller, 1999).

Antibodies represent potential neuro-diagnostic imaging agents for braindiseases as well as potential therapeutic agents such asimmunoconjugates. However antibodies, like other large plasma proteinssuch as albumin, do not readily traverse cell membranes and aregenerally confined to the plasma compartment of the circulation.

One potential mechanism of enhanced delivery of antibodies moleculesthrough the BBB is cationization, a process wherein cationization agentreplaces surface carboxyl groups on the antibody with more basic groups,such as a primary amine group. The amount of cationization agent andreaction conditions are controlled so that the isoelectric point of theresulting cationized antibody is raised (Bickel et al., 2001). Thepositive charges of cationized proteins bind to negative charges oncellular surfaces and this interaction triggers absorptive-mediatedendocytosis (AME) of the cationized protein into the cell. With respectto cationization of immunoglobulins, recent studies have shown that thismethod results in enhanced absorptive-mediated endocytosis by isolatedbrain capillaries in vitro (Girod et al., 1999) and at the cerebralmicrovasculature in vivo (Triguero et al., 1991), and that thisendocytosis process leads to the net transcytosis of the cationized IgGinto the brain in vivo.

A crucial point in the use of cationized antibodies is the retention ofantigen binding properties. Cationized monoclonal antibodies show adecrease of affinity because arginine and lysine, usually involved inthe binding with the antigen, are modified by the cationization process(Triguero et al., 1989). In addition, the possible antigenicity ofcationized antibodies may represent another problem, since mostmonoclonal antibodies are mouse proteins, and in the case ofadministration to humans, cationization may enhance their pre-existingantigenicity.

A significant proportion of camelid antibodies are single-domainantibodies, which interact with their antigen via a single heavy-chainbinding domain devoid of light chain. This domain is also referred to as“VHH” or “VHH antibody” or “VHH domain”. Recombinant VHH antibodiespresent a minimal-sized and an intact antigen-binding domain. Theabsence of VL domain allows the VHH antibodies to attain a higherstructural flexibility than that of VH domains associated with VLdomains. Furthermore, the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) ofVHHs, and especially CDR3, are statistically longer than those ofconventional VH-VL antibodies (Muyldermans, 2001).

Receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) of VHH antibodies have been proposedto represent an alternative to cationized antibodies. Abulrob et al.(2005) have described a positively charged variable fragment of a llamasingle domain anti-body (named FC5) that binds brain endothelial cellsand transmigrates across the BBB in vitro and in vivo. The authors haveexcluded the endocytic pathway of FC5 by (1) macropinocytosis, sinceamiloride had no effect on transendothelial migration of FC5 and (2)absorptive-mediated endocytosis, since AME inhibitors failed to reducetrans-endothelial transport of FC5. The endocytic pathway of FC5 seemsrather to be a receptor-mediated endocytosis since transcytosis of FC5is dependant on clathrin-coated endocytotic vesicles and on therecognition of specific oligosaccharide anti-genic receptors on theluminal surface of human cerebral endothelial cells (HCEC).

Receptor-mediated endocytosis does however suffer from the majordisadvantage that the quantity of a substance of interest deliveredacross the BBB is dependant on the presence and the number of a specificreceptor expressed on the cerebral endothelial cells, as well as thenumber of non-saturated receptors.

Thus, there is a substantial interest in the development of adequatedelivery systems to overcome the limitations of cationization AME (i.e.,AME of cationized proteins) and RME.

International Application No. WO 2004/044204 describes variablefragments of camelid single-chain antibodies (VHH antibodies) capable ofspecifically binding the amyloid β peptide 42, a peptide involved in thepathogenesis of Alzeimer's disease (AD).

The Inventors have now found that unexpectedly certain of the VHHantibodies described in International Application No. WO 2004/044204cross the BBB, by using an in vitro model. More specifically, theInventors have shown that the VHH antibodies, having an isoelectricpoint above 8.5 (VHH V31-1 and VHH 61), were able to transmigrate acrossthe BBB, by micropinocytosis and absorptive-mediated endocytosis (AME).

The Inventors have also prepared camelid single-chain antibodiesdirected against GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and haveanalysed their binding properties both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, onealpaca was immunized against hGFAP and three anti-GFAP VHH antibodieswere selected by ribosome display.

The Inventors have unexpectedly demonstrated the ability of an anti-GFAPVHH antibody having an isoelectric point above 8.5, to diffuse, reachand bind its intracellular target in the brain after carotidianinjection in vivo (as revealed by immuno-staining of astrocytes).

Thus, VHH antibodies directed against an intracellular target in a cell,such as a brain cell, and having an isoelectric point above 8.5, can beeasily delivered to a tissue, such as brain, and penetrate into thecells, such as the neural and glial cells. Consequently, these VHHantibodies are interesting agents for imaging tissues or cells anddelivering therapeutic compounds into the tissues or cells, particularlyinto the brain cells, such as the astrocytes.

Therefore, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to the useof a variable fragment (hereinafter denoted indifferently “VHH antibody”or “VHH domain”) of a camelid single-chain antibody having anisoelectric point of at least 8.5, for the preparation of a peptidevector for delivering a substance of interest across a mammalblood-brain barrier, preferably a human blood-brain barrier, the braintransendothelial migration of said VHH antibody being inhibited in thepresence of amiloride in vitro.

Said VHH antibody, which has naturally an isoelectric point superior orequal to 8.5, does not have a modified affinity for its antigen as it isthe case for cationized monoclonal antibodies, and preferably does notbind nor recognize cerebromicrovascular endothelial cells; indeed ittransmigrates across the BBB by micropinocytosis and/orabsorptive-mediated endocytosis (AME).

Camelid (camel, dromedary, llama, alpaca, . . . ) VHH antibodies areknown in the art (See Nguyen et al., 2001; Muyldermans, 2001).

The VHH antibody of the present invention has an isoelectric point of atleast 8.5, preferably at least 9, more preferably at least 9.5, andfurthermore preferably between 9.6 and 9.9.

Methods for determining the brain transendothelial migration of a VHHantibody in the presence of amiloride, a compound that inhibits theformation of macropinosomes without affecting coated pits-mediatedendocytosis, are known in the art. One can refer to Weksler et al.(2005) and Abulrob et al. (2005). By way of example, an in vitroblood-brain barrier (BBB) model can be established by culturing animmortalizing human brain endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3 (Weksler etal., 2005), on a porous filter. This cell line is available at theCollection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM), 28 rue du DrRoux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France, under the number 1-3308. This cellline retains most of the morphological and functional characteristics ofbrain endothelial cells, even without culture of glial cells and maythus constitute a reliable in vitro model of the human BBB. VHH antibodytransendothelial migration is then tested in the presence of amiloride.The amiloride salt, preferably chlorhydrate (herein denoted “amiloride”)concentration is preferably between 300 and 700 μM, more preferablyabout 500 μM.

The term “isoelectric point” (pI) refers to the pH at which the VHHantibody carries no net charge. Methods for determining the isoelectricpoint of a protein, particularly a peptide or protein, are well known tothose of one skilled in the art. By way of example, many suitablecomputer programs for calculating the pI of a protein are generallyknown in the art, such as EMBOSS iep software, written by Alan Bleasby(ableasby@hgmp.mrc.as.uk), available at HGMP-RC, Genome Campus, Hinxton,Cambridge CB10 1SB, UK.

In a preferred embodiment, the VHH antibody of the invention consists ofabout 110 to 150 amino acid residues.

In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the VHHantibody comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected fromthe group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 (also denoted VHH V31-1) and SEQ IDNO: 2 (also denoted VHH 61-3). These VHHs have been described inInternational Application No. WO 2004/044204.

A host cell expressing VHH V31-1 is available at the CollectionNationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM), 28 rue du Dr Roux,75724 Paris Cedex 15, France, under the number 1-2936; it was filed onSep. 20, 2002.

A host cell expressing VHH 61-3 is also available at the CNCM, 28 rue duDr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France, under the number 1-2933; it wasfiled on Sep. 20, 2002.

Both VHH antibodies have the particularity to bind the amyloid β peptide42 as described in International Application No. WO 2004/044204.

In another embodiment, said VHH antibody is directed against anintracellular target and said peptide vector is able to deliver asubstance of interest into a mammal cell comprising said intracellulartarget.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the substance ofinterest according to the present invention may or may not permeate themammal or human blood-brain barrier. If the substance of interestpermeates said blood-brain, then the use of the VHH antibody of thepresent invention can allow enhancing the delivery of said substance ofinterest across the blood-brain barrier.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the substance of interest isa therapeutic or a diagnostic compound. Preferably, the size of thetherapeutic or diagnostic compound is at least 400 Daltons and/or saidcompound has more than 8 hydrogen bonds.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the substance ofinterest is a liposome or a polymeric entity comprising a therapeutic ora diagnostic compound.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the therapeutic ordiagnostic compound is selected from the group consisting of a peptide,an enzyme, a nucleic acid, a virus, a fluorophore, a heavy metal, achemical entity and a radioisotope.

Preferably, the diagnostic compound is selected from the groupconsisting of:

-   -   enzymes such as horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase,        glucose-6-phosphatase or beta-galactosidase;    -   fluorophores such as green fluorescent protein (GFP), blue        fluorescent dyes excited at wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV)        part of the spectrum (e.g. AMCA        (7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetic acid); Alexa Fluor 350),        green fluorescent dyes excited by blue light (e.g. FITC, Cy2,        Alexa Fluor 488), red fluorescent dyes excited by green light        (e.g. rhodamines, Texas Red, Cy3, Alexa Fluor dyes 546, 564 and        594), or dyes excited with far-red light (e.g. Cy5) to be        visualized with electronic detectors (CCD cameras,        photomultipliers);    -   heavy metal chelates such as europium, lanthanum or yttrium;    -   radioisotopes such as [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose, ¹¹C-, ¹²⁵I-,        ¹³¹I-, ³H-, ¹⁴C-, ³⁵S, or ⁹⁹Tc-labelled compounds.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the therapeutic compoundis selected from the group consisting of an anticancer compound, ananalgesic compound, an anti-inflammatory compound, an antidepressantcompound, an anticonvulsant compound or an anti-neurodegenerativecompound.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the VHH antibody asdefined above is linked, directly or indirectly, covalently ornon-covalently to the substance of interest as defined above.

Said substance of interest can be directly and covalently linked to saidVHH antibody either to one of the terminal ends (N or C terminus) of theVHH antibody, or to the side chain of one of the amino acids of the VHHantibody. The substance of interest can also be indirectly andcovalently linked to said VHH antibody by a connecting arm (i.e., across-linking reagent) either to one of the terminal ends of the VHHantibody or to a side chain of one of the amino acids of the VHHantibody. Linking methods of a substance of interest to an oligopeptide,in particular a VHH antibody, are known in the art (e.g., See Ternynckand Avrameas, 1987, “Techniques immunoenzymatiques” Ed. INSERM, Paris).

Many chemical cross-linking methods are also known in the art.Cross-linking reagents may be homobifunctional (i.e., having twofunctional groups that undergo the same reaction) or heterobifunctional(i.e., having two different functional groups). Numerous cross-linkingreagents are commercially available. Detailed instructions for their useare readily available from the commercial suppliers. A general referenceon oligopeptide cross-linking and conjugate preparation is: Wong,Chemistry of protein conjugation and cross-linking, CRC Press (1991).

Alternatively, if the substance of interest is a peptide, the VHHantibody of the invention and said substance of interest can be producedby genetic engineering as a fusion polypeptide that includes the VHHantibody and the suitable peptide. This fusion polypeptide canconveniently be expressed in known suitable host cells.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a therapeutic ordiagnostic agent comprising a VHH antibody as defined above, linked,directly or indirectly, covalently or non-covalently to a substance ofinterest as defined hereabove.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the therapeutic ordiagnostic agent can be administered to a subject (a mammal or a human)by injection, preferably by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscularor subcutaneous injection.

A diagnostic agent of the present invention can be used in brain imagingor in diagnosing brain disorders such as brain cancers (e.g., a gliomaor a glioblastoma), pain, mental disorders or neurodegenerativedisorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease).

In another aspect, the present invention provides a kit for diagnosing abrain disorder as defined above, comprising at least a VHH antibody anda diagnostic compound as defined above.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a therapeutic agent as defined above and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is intended toinclude any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterialand antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and thelike, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. Suitable carriersare described in the most recent edition of Remington's PharmaceuticalSciences, a standard reference text in the field. Preferred examples ofsuch carriers or diluents include, but are not limited to, water,saline, Ringer's solutions, dextrose solution, and 5% human serumalbumin. Liposomes, cationic lipids and non-aqueous vehicles such asfixed oils may also be used. The use of such media and agents forpharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Exceptinsofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with atherapeutic agent as defined hereabove, use thereof in the compositionof the present invention is contemplated.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a therapeuticagent or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for use in thetreatment of brain cancers, pain, mental disorders or neurodegenerativedisorders.

The term “treatment” includes the administration of the therapeuticagent or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above to a patient whohas a disorder, a symptom of disorder or a predisposition toward adisorder, with the purpose to cure, heal, alleviate, relieve, alter,remedy, ameliorate, improve or affect the disorder, the symptoms of thedisorder, or the predisposition toward disorder.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of avariable domain of a camelid heavy-chain antibody (VHH antibody)directed against an intracellular target and having an isoelectric pointof at least 8.5, preferably of at least 9, and more preferably between 9and 10, or of a polypeptide or antibody comprising said VHH antibody,for targeting said intracellular target or for the preparation of apeptide vector for delivering a substance of interest, as defined above,into a mammal cell, preferably a human cell, comprising saidintracellular target.

As used herein the term “intracellular target” refers to any antigen (ormoiety) present inside a cell, preferably a brain cell, such as a neuronor a glial cell, and capable of directing a VHH antibody, polypeptide orantibody, as defined above, inside said cell by virtue of its ability tobind or interact with said VHH antibody.

As used herein the term “targeting” refers to the ability of a VHHantibody, polypeptide or antibody, as defined above, to enter a cell,preferably a brain cell, such as a neuron or a glial cell, and bind saidintracellular target (antigen).

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, said VHH antibody ishyperstable.

As used herein, the term “hyperstable” means that a VHH antibody canrecover its active activity (or function) after denaturation by heat(then said VHH antibody is thermostable) and/or after reduction of itsdisulfide bridge(s).

The thermostability of a VHH antibody can be determined as follows:

a) suspending a VHH antibody (named “native VHH antibody”) in PBS/NaCl300 mM,

b) heating for 15 minutes at 75° C.,

c) cooling down at 4° C. for 20 minutes,

d) determining the binding affinity of the refolded VHH antibodyobtained at step c), and if the stability of the refolded VHH antibodyis reduced at most twice compared to the native VHH antibody then saidVHH antibody is thermostable.

The reduction of the disulfide bridge(s) of a VHH antibody can becarried out as described in Example 3. According to the presentinvention, a VHH antibody is hyperstable if the binding affinity of aVHH antibody, of which the disulfide forming cysteine residues have beenreplaced with serine residues, is reduced at most twice compared to thenative VHH antibody.

The binding affinity of a VHH antibody can be determined by any methodknown from one skilled in the art, for instance by the ELISA techniquedescribed in Example 2 below.

In another preferred embodiment of this aspect, said human cell is anastrocyte, and optionally said intracellular target is a GFAP.

In addition to the preceding features, the invention further comprisesother features which will emerge from the following description, whichrefers to examples illustrating the present invention, as well as to theappended figures.

FIG. 1 shows VHH antibody transmigration across in vitro blood-brainbarrier (BBB) model. Transport studies were initiated by adding 10-20μg/ml VHH antibodies (V31-1, 61-3 and L1-3) to apical compartment (upperchamber) and the amount of VHH antibodies was determined in the lowerchamber at 10 min, 30 min and 60 min.

FIG. 2 shows the effects of pharmacological inhibitors ofadsorptive-mediated endocytosis (AME) and macropinocytosis ontransmigration of VHH antibodies across in vitro BBB model. hCMEC/D3were pretreated for 30 min with AME inhibitors, protamine sulfate (40μg/ml), and poly-L-lysine (300 μM), or micropinocytosis inhibitor,amiloride (500 μM), and VHH antibodies (V31-1 and 61-3) transport wasmeasured over 30 min.

FIG. 3 shows the energy-dependence of VHH antibody transmigration acrossin vitro BBB barrier model. Transcellular migration of VHH antibodies(V31-1 and 61-3) across hCMEC/D3 was measured at 37° C. and 4° C. VHHantibodies transmigration was measured at 30 min after addition to upperchamber.

FIG. 4 shows the binding of the VHH domains VHH-A10, -E3 and -E9 to GFAPanalysed by ELISA. Microtiter plates were coated with GFAP and variousconcentrations of VHH were added.

FIG. 5 shows the Western blot analyses of anti-GFAP specificities.Murine brain extracts were electrophoresed, immunoblotted and incubatedwith the VHH domains VHH-A10, VHH-B8, VHH-E3 and VHH-E9.

FIG. 6 shows the characterization of anti-GFAP VHH-E9. A: Western blot.Murine brain extracts were electrophoresed, immunoblotted and incubatedwith VHH-E9. MW: molecular weight marker proteins. B: Isoelectricfocusing on PhastGel IEF 3-9. MpI: isoelectric point marker.

FIG. 7 shows the VHH-E9 immunolabeling of GFAP in the cytoplasm ofastrocytes in mouse brain sections. A: Immunolabeled astrocytes in thewhite matter between striatum and primary motor cortex, close to thecorpus callosum. It was mainly identify thin fibrous astrocytes(arrowheads) and some large protoplasmic astrocytes (arrow). B:immunolabeled astrocytic radially oriented processes beaming from thepial surface glia limitans (arrows) at level of the dorsal thirdventricle. C: immunolabeled astrocytic radially organized glialprocesses beaming from the pial surface glia limitans (arrows) locatedat the base of the forebrain. These processes spread out through theantero-ventral periventricular and medial preoptic nuclei. D:immunolabeled astrocytes processes located in the cylindrical whitematter of the anterior commissure, anterior part (aca; arrowheads). Inthe vicinity of aca are located also radially oriented immunolabeledGFAP fibers. These glial processes are beaming from a folded portion ofthe pial surface located in the bottom of the lateral ventricle(arrows).

FIG. 8 shows the VHH-E9 transmigration across in vitro blood-brainbarrier (BBB). A: Transport studies were initiated by adding 10-20 μg/mlVHH to the apical compartment (upper chamber) and the amount of VHH wasdetermined in the lower chamber after 10 min, 30 min and 60 min. B:Effects of pharmacological inhibitors of adsorptive-mediated endocytosis(AME) and macropinocytosis on transmigration of VHH across in vitro BBBmodel. hCMEC/D3 were pretreated for 30 min with either AME inhibitors,protamine sulfate (40 μg/ml), and poly-L-lysine (300 μM), ormicropinocytosis inhibitor, amiloride (500 μM). VHH transport was thenmeasured over 30 min.

FIG. 9 shows the VHH-E9 transmigration across blood-brain barrier (BBB)in vivo. 4 mg of VHH were perfused in the left carotide artery ofC57BL/6 mice for 60 min. Mice were euthanized 1 hour later.Immunolabeled astrocytes in, a: the corpus callosum, b: hippocampus, c:olfactory bulb, d: gray matter (scale bar: 10 μm), e: coronal section ofthe rostral corpus callosum. More astrocytes are labelled in left (L)genu of the corpus callosum (arrow), ipsilateral to the injectedcarotide artery, as compared to the right side (R) (scale bar: 100 μm).

FIG. 10 shows the VHH-E9 immunolabelling of GFAP in mouse brain sectionsafter injection of 30% mannitol. a: Glial astrocytic foot processapposed to a blood vessel, b: VHH immunolabelling of astrocytes in thewhite matter.

FIG. 11 shows the VHH-E9 labelling of GFAP in the cytoplasm of micebrain sections after infection with Pl. berghei parasite. C57BL/6 micewere inoculated i.p. with 10⁶ infected erythrocytes of Pl. berghei permouse. At day 5, 400 μg of VHH were perfused in the left carotide for 60min. Mice were killed 1 hour later. A: olfactif bulb, B: White matter,C: hippocampus, D: Caudal region, E: coronal section of the whitematter. Astrocytes are labelled in the corpus callosum (L is the lefthemisphere, corresponding to the side of the injected carotid; R is theright hemisphere).

EXAMPLE 1 In Vitro VHH Antibody Transmigration Across HCMEC/D3 Materialsand Methods 1) Materials and Methods

Materials

EBM-2 medium was from Clonetics (Cambrex BioScience, Wokingham, UK) andwas supplemented with VEGF, IGF-1, EGF, basic FGF, hydrocortisone,ascorbate, gentamycin and 2.5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) as recommendedby the manufacturer: this fully supplemented medium is designatedMicrovascular Endothelial Cell Medium-2 (EGM-2 MV, herein referred to asEGM-2 medium). Collagen type I was obtained from BD BiosciencesPharMingen (Le Pont de Claix, France).

VHH Antibodies and Expression Thereof in a pET System

VHH V31-1 (SEQ ID NO: 1)

VHH 61-3 (SEQ ID NO: 2)

VHH L1-3 (SEQ ID NO: 3)

The coding sequences of VHH V31-1, VHH 61-3 and VHH L1-3 antibodies invector pHEN1, described in International Application No. WO 2004/044204,were subcloned in vector pET 22 using the NcoI and NotI restrictionsites according to the manufacturer's instructions (Novagen, Darmstadt,Germany). Transformed E. coli BL 21 (DE3) cells expressed VHH antibodiesin the periplasm after induction by IPTG 1 mM for 3 hours at 20° C.Periplasmic extracts were obtained by spheroplasting cells, suspended in50 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 8 containing 20% sucrose and 1 mM EDTA,and hydrolysing the peptidoglycan with 5 mg/ml lysozyme for 20 min at 4°C., in the presence of protease inhibitors (Complete™, BoehringerMannheim, Germany). The suspension was then centrifuged 2 min at 10,000rpm. The supernatant corresponding to the periplasmic extract was keptat 4° C. Purified VHH antibodies were obtained by IMAC using a chelatingagarose column charged with Ni²⁺ (Superflow Ni-NTA, Qiagen Ltd, UK)according to manufacturer's instructions. The protein content wasmeasured using the Bradford reagent. The purity of the final preparationwas evaluated by SDS-PAGE with Coomassie staining and by Western blot.

The amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 and 3 have been described inInternational Application No. WO 2004/044204.

The pI calculation of these VHH antibodies has been performed usingEMBOSS iep software. VHH V31-1 and VHH 61-3, have a basic pI,respectively 9.69 and 9.83, while VHH L1-3 has a pI of 7.67.

Transport Across an In Vitro Blood Brain Barrier

Immortalized human brain endothelial cells hCMEC/D3 have been previouslydescribed in detail in Weksler et al. (2005). Cell viability in thepresence of VHH antibodies was assessed by MTT assay as described inHussain et al., 1993.

The permeability of hCMEC/D3 cell monolayers to VHH antibodies wasmeasured on transwell polycarbonate insert filters (pore size 3 μm,Corning, Brumath, France) as described in Weksler et al. (2005).hCMEC/D3 cells were seeded on the filters at a confluent density of2×10⁵ cells/cm² in EGM-2 medium.

Transport studies were performed 3 days post-seeding as described inWeksler et al. (2005). Experiments were initiated by adding VHHantibodies to the upper chamber containing either collagen, coatedinserts without cells, hCMEC/D3 cells or hCMEC/D3 cells pre-exposed tovarious pharmacological modulators for 30 min. Transport studies wereconducted at 37° C. The lower chamber was sampled at various timeintervals (10, 30 and 60 min) and the presence of VHH antibodies wasdetermined by ELISA and Western Blot (see below).

ELISA

A modified version of a standard ELISA was used to test for the presenceof VHH antibodies in culture supernatants. Microtiter plates (Nunc,Denmark) were coated by incubation overnight at 4° C. with 1 μg/ml ofantigen diluted in PBS. Plates were washed four times with buffer A(0.1% Tween 20 in PBS), and VHH antibodies were diluted in buffer B(0.5% gelatin in buffer A). The plates were incubated for 2 hours at 37°C. and washed again, before adding a rabbit anti-His tag antibody (SantaCruz, Calif., USA), then the plates were washed with buffer A and a goatanti-rabbit IgG antibody labeled to peroxidase (ICN, aurora, OH) orlabeled to β-galactosidase (Biosys, les Ullis, France) was added for 1hour at 37° C.

Western Blot

For immunoblot detection of VHH antibodies, a modified version of astandard western blot was used. To an aliquot, an equal volume of gelloading buffer was added and then treated at 100° C. for 5 min.Following separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) usingNuPAGE Novex 4-12% Bis-tris gel (Invitrogen), semi-dry transfer ontoHybond-C (Amersham) and western blotting were carried out using theXcell II blot module (Invitrogen). Prior to the immunochemical reaction,membranes were blocked in a 4% skimmed milk solution and revealed byperoxidase-labeled rabbit anti-His tag (Santa Cruz, Calif., USA)followed by peroxidase labeled goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulins.Finally, peroxidase activity was visualized using a chemiluminescent kit(Amersham).

2) Results

Transcytosis assay were performed on an in vitro BBB model described inWeksler et al. (2005). VHH antibodies were added to the upper chamberand the rate of passage of VHH antibodies from the luminal to theabluminal side of the cell monolayer was measured. FIG. 1 shows thatthere is a transcytosis of functional VHH V31-1 and VHH 61-3 while thereis no passage of VHH L1-3 across hCMEC/D3. This passage wastime-dependant and reached a maximum at 30 min. At 60 min about 1% ofVHH antibodies were present in the lower chamber.

The contribution of adsorptive-mediated endocytosis (AME) to VHHantibody transcytosis was assessed. HCMEC/D3 were preincubated for 30min with highly cationic protamine sulfate (40 μg/ml) or a commerciallyavailable polylysine (300 μM); both previously shown to inhibit AMEprior to assessing VHH antibody uptake and transport (Abulrob et al.,2005). There was an inhibition of the transendothelial migration of VHHantibodies suggesting that the transmigration is charge-dependant (FIG.2).

To investigate whether VHH V31-1 and VHH 61-3 antibodies areinternalized and transported by macropinocytosis, VHH antibodytransmigration was tested in the presence of 500 μM amiloridechlorhydrate, a compound that inhibits the formation of macropinosomeswithout affecting coated pits-mediated endocytosis. Amiloride had aninhibitory effect on transendothelial migration of these VHH antibodies(FIG. 2).

To investigate the energy dependence of VHH V31-1 and VHH 61-3 antibodytranscytosis, transport was measured at 37° C. and at 4° C. At 30 min,marked reductions of transendothelial migration of these VHH antibodieswas observed at 4° C. compared with 37° C. suggesting that theirtransport across hCMEC/D3 is energy dependent (FIG. 3).

EXAMPLE 2 Production of Anti-GFAP-VHHs 1) Materials and Methods

Materials

GFAP (gi:164694994 in the GENBANK database) from normal human brain waspurchased from United States Biological, Inc. The anti-GFAP rabbitpolyclonal antibody (GF 5) was obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology,Ca, USA.

Primers:

CH2FORTA4 (SEQ ID NO: 4): 5′-CGCCATCAAGGTACCAGTTGA-3′ VHBACKA6 (SEQ IDNO: 5): 5′-GATGTGCAGCTGCAGGCGTCTGGRGGAGG-3′ VHBACKA4 (SEQ ID NO: 6):5′-CATGCCATGACTCGCGGCCCAGCCGGCCATGGCCGAKGTSCAGC T-3′ VHFOR36 (SEQ ID NO:7): 5′-GGACTAGTTGCGGCCGCTGAGGAGACGGTGACCTG-3′ LH (SEQ ID NO: 8):5′-GGACTAGTTGCGGCCGCTGGTTGTGGTTTTGGTGTCTTGGG-3′ VHH-SPEF (SEQ ID NO: 9):5′GGAGATATATATCCATGAGAGGATCGCATCACCATCACCATCACGGAT CCGCCGAKGTSCAGCTG-3′VHH-SPER (SEQ ID NO: 10): 5′-CCATATAAAGCTTTGAGGAGACGGTGACCTG-3′ SDA-MRGS(SEQ ID NO: 11): 5′AGACCACAACGGTTTCCCTCTAGAAATAATTTTGTTTAACTTTAAGAAGGAGATATATCCATGAGAGGATCG-3′ T7C primer (SEQ ID NO: 12):5′ATACGAAATTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACCACAACGGTTTCCCT C-3′ VHH-link (SEQ IDNO: 13): 5′-CAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAAAGCTTTATATGGCCTCGGGGGCC-3′ TolAkurz (SEQID NO: 14): 5′-CCGCACACCAGTAAGGTGTGCGGTTTCAGTTGCCGCTTTCTTTC T-3′ T7B(SEQ ID NO: 15): 5′-ATACGAAATTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACCACAACGG-3′

Antigen Preparation and Induction of a Humoral Immune Response in Alpaca

250 μl of GFAP (1 mg/ml) was mixed with 250 μl of Freund completeadjuvant for the first immunization, and with 250 μl of Freundincomplete adjuvant for the following immunizations.

One young adult male alpaca (Lama pacos) was immunized at days 0, 21 and35 with 250 μg of the immunogen. The alpaca was bled and the immuneresponse was monitored by titration of serum samples by ELISA on GFAP (1μg/ml in PBS) immobilized on MaxiSorp™ plates (Nunc, Denmark), afterdilution of the serum in PBS-Tween 0.1% containing 0.5% gelatin. Thebound alpaca antibodies were detected with polyclonal rabbit anti-alpacaIgG (obtained by immunizing rabbits with alpaca immunoglobulins isolatedwith protein A and protein G columns [Muyldermans et al., 1994] andhorseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit antibodies.

Library Construction

The blood of the immunized animal was collected and the peripheral bloodlymphocytes were isolated by centrifugation on a Ficoll (Pharmacia)discontinuous gradient and stored at −80° C. until further use. TotalRNA and cDNA was obtained as previously described by Lafaye et al.,1995. DNA fragments encoding VHH domains were amplified by PCR usingCH2FORTA4 and VHBACKA6 primers (described in International ApplicationNo. WO 2004/044204; Lafaye et al., 1995), which respectively anneal tothe 3′ and 5′ flanking region of VH genes (Arbabi Ghahroudi et al.,1997). The amplified product of approximately 600 bp was subjected to asecond round of PCR using either the primers VHBACKA4 and VHFOR36 or theprimers VHBACKA4 and LH specific of the long hinge antibody (asdescribed in International Application No. WO 2004/044204). The primerswere complementary to the 5′ and 3′ ends of the amplified product andincorporated SfiI and NotI restriction sites at the ends of the VHHgenes. The PCR products were digested and ligated into phage vector pHEN1 (Hoogenboom and Winter, 1992). The resulting library was composed oftwo sublibraries, one derived from VHH DNA-encoding genes with no hingeand the other from long hinge antibody genes.

The VHH domain population was converted to ribosome display format usingPCR and transcribed to mRNA as follows (Mouratou et al., 2007). Clonesfrom the VHH domain population were amplified using the primer VHH-SPEFthat contained a 5′ extension containing the prokaryotic Shine-Dalgarnosequence and the primer VHH-SPER. The 400 bp PCR product was thenamplified using a mixture of SDA-MRGS primer (5 μM), VHH—SPER primer (5μM) and T7C primer (5 μM). The 450 bp product was purified with theWizard® SV purification kit (Promega).

A peptide linker was added to ensure that the protein displayed on theribosome was accessible to potential ligands. DNA encoding this linker,corresponding to a part of the E. coli protein TolA was PCR amplified byusing the primers VHH-link and TolAkurz.

Finally the library was assembled with the TolA linker by PCR assemblyusing primers TolAkurz and T7B.

The final assembly product corresponded to a library of VHH with all ofthe 5′ and 3′ regions necessary to its use for ribosome displayselections, as previously described (Mouratou et al., 2007).

Ribosome Display Selection Rounds

GFAP (10 μg/ml) was bound in a MaxiSorp™ plate (Nunc, Denmark) andselections by ribosome display were performed at 4° C. Selection wasperformed according to Mouratou et al., 2007. The wells were blockedwith 300 μl 0.5% BSA in TBS for 1 hour at room temperature. Before theribosome-display round, the wells were then extensively washed withwashing buffer WBT (50 mM Tris acetic acid, pH7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 50 mmMg(CH3COO⁻)₂, 0.05% tween 20). A ribosome display round consisted of a15 nm-prepanning step on a well coated with PBS and a 1 hour bindingstep on the target protein. After washing, RNA purification and reversetranscription (with primer VHH-SPER), a first PCR was done using theprimers VHH-SPEF and VHH-SPER. This RT-PCR product was purified on anagarose gel and reamplified in a second PCR using T7C, SDA-MRGS andVHH-SPER primers. This PCR product was purified on an agarose gel andreamplified in a third PCR using T7B and TolAkurz primers. The third PCRproduct served as template for the next round of ribosome display. Threeidentical rounds of selection were performed to isolate high-affinitybinders.

VHH Expression Either with a His-tag or with a CH2 Domain, Allowing itsRecognition by Anti-Tag or Anti-Alpaca Antibodies

VHH Expression with a His-tag in the pET System

The coding sequence of the VHH was subcloned in vector pET22 using theNcoI and NotI restriction sites according to the manufacturer'sinstructions (Novagen, Darmstadt, Germany). Transformed E. coli BL 21(DE3) cells expressed VHHs in the periplasm after induction by IPTG 1 mMfor 18 hours at 15° C. Periplasmic extracts were obtained byspheroplasting cells, suspended in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 8containing 20% sucrose and 1 mM EDTA, and hydrolysing the peptidoglycanwith 5 mg/ml lysozyme for 20 min at 4° C., in the presence of proteaseinhibitors (Complete™, Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). The suspension wasthen centrifuged 2 min at 10,000 rpm. The supernatant corresponding tothe periplasmic extract was kept at 4° C. Purified VHHs were obtained byIMAC using a chelating agarose column charged with Ni²⁺ (SuperflowNi-NTA, Qiagen Ltd, UK) according to manufacturer's instructions.Purified VHH were dialysed against PBS and the protein content wasmeasured using the Bradford reagent. The purity of the final preparationwas evaluated by SDS-PAGE with Coomassie staining and by Western blot.

Expression of VHH with the CH2 Domain

Anti-His tag antibodies may prove to be difficult to use inimmunohistochemistry experiments. This is why VHHs coupled with the CH2domain were also prepared. Specific and sensitive rabbit anti-alpacaantibodies directed against the CH2 domain are available (LAFAYE et al.,2009). Secondary anti-rabbit antibodies conjugated with horseradishperoxidase are routinely used in Neuropathology laboratories. The alpacaImmunoglobulin CH2 domain was amplified by RT-PCR using primerCH2-Fwd-Not and CH2-Rev-Xho (Lafaye et al., 2009). These primers containrespectively a NotI and a XhoI site allowing the cloning of CH2 domainin pET 22 vector in frame with VHH gene. The expression and purificationof VHH were performed as described in Lafaye et al., 2009.

Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA)

A modified version of a standard ELISA was used to test for the presenceof VHH in culture supernatants. Microtiter plates (Nunc, Denmark) werecoated by incubation overnight at 4° C. with 5 μg/ml of antigen dilutedin PBS. Plates were washed four times with buffer A (0.1% Tween 20 inPBS), and VHHs were diluted in buffer B (0.5% gelatin in buffer A). Theplates were incubated for 2 hours at 37° C. and washed again, beforeadding a horseradish peroxidase-labeled rabbit anti-c-myc (A14) (SantaCruz Biotechnology, Ca, USA) or with a rabbit anti-His tag antibody(Santa Cruz, Ca, USA). Then, the plates were washed with buffer A, andfreshly prepared 0.2% orthophenylenediamine (Dakopatts A/S, Glostrup,Denmark), 0.03% H₂O₂ in 0.1 M citrate buffer, pH 5.2, were added to eachwell. The peroxidase reaction was stopped by adding 3 M HCl, and theoptical density was measured at 490 nm.

Determination of Dissociation Constants by ELISA

The binding affinity of VHHs was determined as described by Friguet etal., 1985. Briefly, various concentrations of GFAP were incubated insolution overnight at 4° C. with a known quantity of VHH untilequilibrium was reached. The VHH concentration had been determined bypreliminary ELISA calibrations. 100 μl of solution was transferred to awell of a microtiter plate previously coated with GFAP and was incubatedfor 20 min at 4° C. The plates were washed with PBS-Tween 0.1%. VHHswere detected with rabbit anti-His tag antibodies (eBiosciences, SanDiego, Calif.) followed by adding β-galactosidase-conjugated goatanti-rabbit Igs (Biosys, Compiègne, France) and 4-methylumbelliferyl β-Dgalactoside (Sigma Aldrich, Saint-Quentin Fallavier, France).Fluorescence was read at 460 nm, after excitation at 355 nm. K_(D) wasestimated from the slope of the regression curve obtained by plottingthe reciprocal of the fraction of bound antibody versus the reciprocalof the molar concentration of antigen.

Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis and Western Blot

Murine brain proteins (300 mg) were extracted in a potter with 600 μl ofNuPage LDS sample buffer (Invitrogen) and kept for 10 nm at 70° C. Analiquot was diluted 1:10 (v/v) with the same sample buffer then treatedat 70° C. for 10 min. Following separation by polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis (PAGE) using NuPAGE Novex 4-12% Bis-tris gel(Invitrogen), semi-dry transfer onto Hybond-C (Amersham) and westernblotting were carried out using the Xcell II blot module (Invitrogen).Prior to the immunochemical reaction, membranes were blocked in a 4%skimmed milk solution. Immunoblotting of membranes was accomplished withthe different VHHs, and revealed by peroxidase-labeled rabbit anti-Histag (Santa Cruz, Ca, USA) followed by peroxidase labeled goatanti-rabbit immunoglobulins. Finally, peroxidase activity was visualizedusing a chemiluminescent kit (Amersham).

2) Results

VHHs were amplified by PCR and three successive rounds of selection wereperformed. After the third round of selection, DNA was purified andcloned in the pET22 vector for periplasmic expression of soluble VHHs.Twenty clones were chosen for screening by ELISA and all of these clonesbind specifically to GFAP. These clones have been sequenced and threesequences, VHH-A10 (SEQ ID NO: 16), VHH-E3 (SEQ ID NO: 17) and VHH-E9(SEQ ID NO: 18), and have been obtained. These sequences show slightdifferences suggesting that the specific immune response against GFAP isoligoclonal.

Yields of 1-2 mg of VHH/l of bacterial culture were obtained afterimmobilized metal affinity chromatography of periplasmic extracts. Thesingle domain products were shown to be highly pure and homogenous bySDS-PAGE.

The specificity of the different VHHs was tested by ELISA and by Westernblot. All the VHHs were specific for GFAP by ELISA (FIG. 5) and coulddetect at least 40 ng of protein. A 46 Kda band corresponding to thesize of GFAP was revealed on the immunoblots of murine brain extracts(FIG. 6).

VHH-A10 and VHH-E9 has an affinity of respectively 3.1 10⁻⁹ M and 5.610⁻⁹ M while VHH-E3 affinity is in the micromolar range.

EXAMPLE 3 VHH-E9 Crosses the Blood Brain Barrier and Labels SpecificallyGFAP 1) Materials and Methods

Expression, Purification and Characterization of VHH-E9

The expression and purification of anti-GFAP VHH-E9 was performedaccording to Example 2 above. SDS-PAGE was performed using NuPAGE Novex4-12% Bis-tris gel according to manufacturer's instructions(Invitrogen). Western blotting was performed according to Example 1above.

Isoelectric focusing was performed using PhastSystem with PhastGel IEF3-9. The pI Calibration Kit (Biorad) was used as standards. The pIcalculation of the VHHs has been performed using EMBOSS iep software(“http://emboss.sourceforge.net/”).

The heat denaturation of VHH-E9 was adapted to the method described inOlichon et al., 2007. VHHs are re-suspended in PBS/NaCl 300 mM and areheated for 15 minutes at 75° C. then cooled down at 4° C. for 20minutes. The binding affinity of VHHs was determined by ELISA asdescribed in Example 2 above.

Site-Directed Mutagenesis

The Quick change site directed mutagenesis kit (Stratagene) was used.The mutagenesis was performed according to manufacturer'sinstructions/with the following primers:

Mutations of Cysteine 22;

E9C22Ssens (SEQ ID NO: 19): 5′-GGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTCTGCAGCCTCTGG-3′E9C22Srev (SEQ ID NO: 20): 5′-CCAGAGGCTGCAGAGGAGAGTCTCAG-3′ Mutations ofcysteine 96 E9C96Ssens (SEQ ID NO: 21):5′-CTACCTTGTTGCGTGATCGCAGAGTAATACACGGCCGT-3′ E9C96Srev (SEQ ID NO: 22):5′-ACGGCCGTGTATTACTCTGCGATCACGCAACAAGGTAGC-3′

The plasmids containing the VHH were sequenced by ATGC using T7 promoterand T7 terminator primers.

Transport Across a Blood Brain Barrier In Vitro Model

Immortalized human brain endothelial cells hCMEC/D3 have been previouslydescribed in detail by Weksler et al., 2005. Cell viability in thepresence of VHH was assessed by MTT assay. The permeability of hCMEC/D3cell monolayers to VHH was measured on transwell polycarbonate insertfilters (pore size 3 μm, Corning, Brumath, France). hCMEC/D3 cells wereseeded on the filters at a confluent density of 2×10⁵ cells/cm² in EGM-2medium. Transport studies were performed at 3 days post-seeding.Experiments were initiated by adding VHH to the upper chamber containingeither collagen, coated inserts without cells, hCMEC/D3 cells orhCMEC/D3 cells pre-exposed to various pharmacological modulators for 30min. Transport studies were conducted at 37° C. The lower chamber wassampled at various time intervals (10, 30 and 60 min) and the presenceof VHH was determined by ELISA and Western Blot.

Immunohistochemistry on Histological Sections

Adult females C57Bl6 mice were euthanized with sodium pentobarbital i.p.(Ceva). Brains were fixed by intra-aortic perfusion with 150 ml 4%paraformaldehyde in PBS 0.1M pH 7.4, and postfixed in the same fixativeovernight at 4° C.

Vibratome sections, 70 μm in thickness, were collected in PBS 0.1M, pH7.4. Free floating brain sections were treated to neutralize freealdehydes, endogenous peroxidases, and non-specific binding sites, priorto immunolabeling. The primary antibody VHH, diluted 1 μg/ml in PBS with1% BSA, 1% normal goat serum, and 0.1% Triton-X100, was incubatedovernight at 4° C. In the sections the VHH were decorated, successively,with rabbit anti-His tag antibodies (eBiosciences, USA) overnight at 4°C., then at room temperature with goat biotinylated anti-Rabbit IgG(H+L)(Vector BA-1000) for 2 hours, and ABC complex (Vector) for 30′. DAB wasused as chromogen. Sections were collected on superfrost glass slides,dehydrated in graded ethanol solutions, and mounted in DPX neutralmounting medium (Aldrich).

Carotidian Injections of VHH In Vivo

Before intra-carotidian injections, mice were anesthetized with a singleintra-peritoneal administration of a ketamine hydrochloride (Imalgen)and xylazine (Rompun) mixture.

The common carotid arteries were exposed with the aid of a microscopeand canulated with fine silicon tubing (PP25x100FT, Portex, UK). Theperfusion fluid containing VHH was infused in the carotid at a constantrate by a peristaltic pump (Model PHD 2000, Harvard apparatus, Harvard,Mass.). Some animals were transiently perfused with mannitol 30% (200 μlfor 30 s) to disrupt the BBB (Rapoport et al., 1980), prior to theinjection of VHH. Allowing diverse times for intra-tissular diffusion,the mice were then perfused. The presence of the VHH-His₆ putativeintrabody in the cerebral tissue was detected using the standardimmunohistochemical procedure described above.

Parasite infection: A central feature of Cerebral Malaria pathologyafter infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA line is the alteration andopening of the BBB (Beghdadi et al., 2008). C57/Bl6 mice were inoculatedi.p. with 10⁶ infected erythrocytes Pb ANKA per mice. At day 5 afterinfection, mice were injected with VHH via the carotide artery.

2) Results

Characterization of VHH-E9 (SEQ ID NO: 18)

A single 46 Kda band corresponding to the size of GFAP were revealed onthe immunoblots of murine brain extracts (see FIG. 6).

The pI of VHH-E9 was determined by isoelectric focusing (IEF) (see FIG.6) and calculated using IEP software. The pI was found to be 8.72 and9.15, respectively for VHH-E9 with or without the His tag.

The labeling of GFAP in murine astrocytes using standardimmunohistochemical procedure on free floating brain sections wasanalyzed. GFAP-positive astrocytes were seen mostly in the white matter,hippocampus, glia limitans, and some in the gray matter of the cerebralcortex (FIG. 7).

The affinity of VHH-E9 heated at 75° C. for 15 minutes, was measured at3.8.10⁻⁹ M, suggesting that VHH-E9 is thermostable.

Capacity of VHH-E9 to Cross the BBB In Vitro

The capacity of VHH-E9 to cross the BBB, was tested in the in vitro BBBmodel developed by Weksler et al., 2005, using a monolayer of hCMEC/D3cells. VHH-E9 was not toxic to these cells even at very highconcentration (1 mg/ml). The upper chamber received 10-20 μg/ml ofVHH-E9 and the rate of passage of VHH-E9 from the luminal to theabluminal side of the monolayer was measured.

FIG. 8A illustrates the transcytosis of functional VHH-E9. Thistime-dependent passage reaches a maximum at 30 min, and after 60 minabout 1-5% of VHHs are present in the lower chamber.

It is now agreed that ionic interactions between cationic proteins andnegative charges present on cell membranes trigger anadsorptive-mediated endocytosis (AME) (Vorbrodt, 1989). The contributionof AME to VHH-E9 transcytosis was then assessed. HCMEC/D3 werepreincubated for 30 nm either with highly cationic protamine sulfate (40μg/ml) or poly-lysine (300 μM), both previously shown to inhibit AME,prior to assessing VHH-E9 uptake and transport. Both cationic peptidesinhibit the transendothelial migration of VHH-E9 suggesting that thetransmigration is charge-dependant (FIG. 8B). To investigate whetherVHH-E9 is internalized and transported by macropinocytosis, VHHtransmigration was tested in the presence of 500 μM amiloride, whichinhibits the formation of macropinosomes. Amiloride had an inhibitoryeffect on transendothelial migration of VHH-E9 (FIG. 9B).

These observations strongly suggest that VHH-E9 is transported throughthe endothelial cell monolayer by an intracellular endocytic mechanismrather than via inter-cellular pathway.

Capacity of VHH-E9 to Cross the BBB In Vivo

VHH-E9 was then tested in vivo for its ability to cross the BBB, in bothnormal and pathological conditions. Different amounts of VHH-E9 wereinjected via the left carotide of untreated mice, during 60 minutes. Onemouse received 200 μl of VHH-E9 at the concentration of 2 mg/ml (0.4mg); a second one received 200 μl of VHH-E9 at the concentration of 20mg/ml (4 mg); a third one received 500 μl of VHH-E9 at the concentrationof 50 mg/ml (25 mg). After the injection, the diffusion of VHH-E9 in thecerebral tissue was allowed for 1 hour before mice were euthanized andperfused with fixative. Immunostaining of astrocytes were observed onlywith mice that received 4 mg and 25 mg of VHH-E9 (FIG. 9). The stainingpattern was similar in the 2 mice and was slightly more intense in micereceiving 25 mg of VHH. This staining was localized in astrocytic feetsurrounding blood vessels, astrocytes present in the white matter (FIGS.9 A, B), the hippocampus (FIG. 9C), pial surface (FIG. 9D), gray matter(FIG. 9E), and olfactif bulb (FIG. 9F). This staining was more intensein the left hemisphere, ipsilateral to the injected carotid, as comparedto the right one (FIG. 9G). 4 mg of VHH was also injected for 60 min andmice were perfused either 90 minutes or 4 hours later. Staining wassimilar in the 60 and 90 min mice and reduced after 4 hours.

Pathological opening of the BBB observed in neurological (inflammatory,infectious, neoplasic) and neurodegenerative diseases, allowscirculation of plasma, electrolytes, drugs, proteins, blood cells, intothe cerebral tissue, with detrimental effects. The ability of VHH-E9 togo through altered BBB was investigated using either osmotic stress orcerebral malaria. The tight junctions of the cerebrovascular endotheliumcan be reversibly opened, in vivo, under osmotic stress. 250 μl of anhypertonic solution of mannitol 30% was injected for 30 seconds in thecarotid, prior to injection of 200 μl of VHH-E9 at the concentration of2 mg/ml, for 60 min. Significant staining of astrocytes was observedthroughout the CNS (FIG. 10).

Cerebral malaria, a clinically complex syndrome of coma andencephalopathy, is correlated with the rupture of BBB integrity. In anexperimental model, C57BL/6 mice developed similar neuropathologicalsigns, five days after i.v. injection of Plasmodium berghei ANKAinfected erythrocytes (Beghdadi et al., 2008). Intracarotidian injectionof 200 μl VHH-E9 (2 mg/ml) (400 μg) during 60 min, in two infected mice,resulted in significant staining of astrocytes (FIG. 11), in theolfactive bulb (FIG. 11A), white matter (FIG. 11B), hippocampus (FIG.11C), and the “caudal” region of the brain (FIG. 11). Again,immunostaining was more intense in the left hemisphere, ipsilateral tothe VHH-E9 injected carotid, as compared to the right one (FIG. 11E). Inboth osmotic stress and cerebral malaria conditions, 400 μg of VHH-E9 issufficient to label astrocytes, as compared to 4 mg needed when BBB isintact. It was then demonstrated that VHH-E9 diffuses and remains activein cerebral tissue under pathological conditions.

Characterization of VHH-E9 SS-Free

A fully functional cysteine-free derivative of VHH-E9 was generated byreplacing the disulfide forming cysteine residues (Cys 22 and Cys 96)with the amino acid combination serine-serine. VHH-E9 SS-free had anaffinity of 12.10⁻⁹ M, only reduced twice compared to the affinity ofnative VHH-E9, suggesting that the antigen binding properties were notaffected by removal of disulfide bonds.

CONCLUSION

The capacity of GFAP specific-VHHs to act as transbodies and intrabodiesin vitro as well as in vivo has been demonstrated. These transbodiesneed to fulfill a set of requirements not observed with conventionalantibodies and corresponding fragments; namely: 1) they cross the BBB,2) diffuse in brain tissues, 3) penetrate into cells, 4) areintracellularly stable, and 5) bind specifically to intracellularantigens. Once GFAP specific-VHH has penetrated into the cells, itspecifically labels GFAP, suggesting that it remains active in spite ofthe reducing properties of the cytosol.

Antibody domains carry an internal disulfide bond, which connects bothβ-sheets of the β-sandwich structure and is strictly conserved duringevolution, witnessing its important contribution to their stability(Alzari et al., 1988; Proba et al., 1997). Genetic removal of thedisulfide bonds in the variable domains of antibody fragments (Fab, Fvor scFv) yields no functional protein, suggesting a severe loss ofstability. Normal antibody fragments do not form disulfide bonds in thecytoplasm and usually are unable to achieve a stable native folding inthe absence of the disulfide bonds (Biocca et al., 1995).

VHHs directed against a GFAP make them interesting agents for brainimaging and new therapeutic strategies to target intracerebral antigenssuch as amyloid proteins, to reach intracerebral tumor cells, or to cureinfections caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites.

REFERENCES

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1) Use of a variable fragment (VHH antibody) of a camelid single-chainantibody having an isoelectric point of at least 8.5, for thepreparation of a peptide vector for delivering a substance of interestacross a mammal blood-brain barrier, preferably a human blood-brainbarrier, the brain transendothelial migration of said VHH antibody beinginhibited in the presence of amiloride in vitro. 2) The use according toclaim 1, characterized in that the VHH antibody has an isoelectric pointof at least 9, preferably at least 9.5. 3) The use according to claim 1or claim 2, characterized in that the VHH antibody comprises or consistsof an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:
 2. 4) The use according to any of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the substance of interest does notpermeate a mammal blood-brain barrier, preferably a human blood-brainbarrier. 5) The use according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that the substance of interest is a therapeutic or adiagnostic compound. 6) The use according to any of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the therapeutic or diagnostic compound isselected from the group consisting of a peptide, an enzyme, a nucleicacid, a virus, a fluorophore, a heavy metal chelate, a chemical entityand a radioisotope. 7) The use according to any of claims 1 to 4,characterized in that the substance of interest is a liposome or apolymeric entity comprising a therapeutic or diagnostic compound asdefined in claim
 6. 8) The use according to any of claims 1 to 7,characterized in that the therapeutic compound is selected from thegroup consisting of an anticancer compound, an analgesic compound, ananti-inflammatory compound, an antidepressant compound, ananticonvulsant compound or an anti-neurodegenerative compound. 9) Theuse according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that thediagnostic compound is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme,a fluorophore, a heavy metal chelate and a radioisotope. 10) The useaccording to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the VHHantibody is linked, directly or indirectly, covalently or non-covalentlyto the substance of interest. 11) A therapeutic or diagnostic agentcomprising a VHH antibody as defined in any of claims 1 to 3, linked,directly or indirectly, covalently or non-covalently to said substanceof interest. 12) A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeuticagent according to claim 11 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.13) A therapeutic agent according to claim 11 or a pharmaceuticalcomposition according to claim 12 for use in the treatment of braincancers, pain, mental disorders or neurodegenerative disorders. 14) Useof a diagnostic agent according to claim 11 in brain imaging or indiagnosing brain disorders. 15) A kit for diagnosing a brain disorder,characterized in that it comprises at least a VHH antibody as defined inany of claims 1 to 3 and a diagnostic compound. 16) The kit fordiagnosing a brain disorder according to claim 15, characterized in thatthe diagnostic compound is selected from the group consisting of apeptide, an enzyme, a nucleic acid, a virus, a fluorophore, a heavymetal chelate, a chemical entity and a radioisotope. 17) Use accordingto claim 1, characterized in that said VHH antibody is directed againstan intracellular target and said peptide vector is able to deliver asubstance of interest into a mammal cell comprising said intracellulartarget. 18) Use of a variable domain of a camelid heavy-chain antibody(VHH antibody) directed against an intracellular target and having anisoelectric point of at least 8.5, preferably of at least 9, fortargeting said intracellular target in a mammal cell. 19) Use accordingto claim 17 or to claim 18 characterized in that said VHH antibody ishyperstable. 20) Use according to anyone of claims 17 to 19,characterized in that said VHH antibody is directed against a glialfibrillary acidic protein. 21) Use according to anyone of claims 17 to20, characterized in that said mammal cell is an astrocyte.